PM Phillips tells OAS Venezuela building landing strip near Essequibo

Guyana on Wednesday updated the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) on the recent escalated situation with neighbouring Venezuela, highlighting concerns regarding the planned referendum to annex the Essequibo region and also of the Spanish-speaking nation’s increase in military troops near the border.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips, appeared before the OAS Permanent Council on Wednesday morning during a Hybrid Special Session that was called following a request by Guyana.

In his address, PM Phillips voiced Guyana’s concerns about the planned referendum, set for December 3, that seeks the Venezuelan people’s approval to, among other things, annex Guyana’s territory of Essequibo.
“Instead of complying with its international obligations, Venezuela has further embarked on what appears to be an intensified campaign of intimidation and threats to force Guyana to concede to its wishes. Perhaps the most concerning of these is the planned consultative referendum of the Venezuelan Parliament,” the PM indicated.
On September 21, there was a decision of the Venezuelan National Assembly to undertake a referendum on December 3 on the status of the Essequibo region, part of the sovereign territory of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. This move has already been widely condemned by the international community.
Despite this, however, the Venezuelan National Electoral Council went ahead on October 23 to publish a list of five questions that it plans to put before the Venezuelan people in the referendum next month.
Question Five proposes the creation of the Venezuelan State of Guyana Essequibo and an accelerated plan for giving Venezuelan citizenship and identity cards to the Guyanese population.
According to the Guyanese Prime Minister, these questions were obviously drafted to obtain responses that would support the Venezuelan Government’s decision to abandon the current judicial proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and resort to unilateral measures to resolving the border controversy between the two South American nations through the annexing and the integration into Venezuela of two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.
“Venezuela has not been shy of using force or the threat of the use of force against Guyana in the past. We are, therefore, vigilant of the intentions and implications of the impending referendum,” PM Phillips stated.
He further outlined that, “Venezuela could be seeking to establish the foundations for actions aimed at the annexation of two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, although the matter of the resolution of the controversy is quite properly before the ICJ.”
Phillips went on to inform the OAS Permanent Council that, “coupled with the decision to conduct this referendum, it is confirmed that Venezuela has significantly increased its military forces and equipment on its border with Guyana. While the position of the Government of Venezuela, which was communicated to Guyana, is that the security forces have been mobilised on the border to curb illegal mining, there have also been reports of the Venezuelan military building a landing strip in a zone near to the Essequibo region. No explanation about the airstrip has been provided to the Government of Guyana, but it is clear that it is the intention of that State to increase rhetoric on the controversy and drive fear in the Guyanese population.”

OAS support
Meanwhile, the PM said Guyana was also grateful of the efforts of the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, including his continued advocacy for a peaceful settlement of the border controversy in accordance with international law.
SG Almagro recently expressed that Venezuela’s recent actions are an irrefutable violation of Guyana’s territorial rights.
During Wednesday’s special session, the OAS Head reiterated that Venezuela’s actions are threatening the peace of the region and called on Caracas to engage in a peaceful settlement of the border controversy.
“We expect Venezuela… to stop provocations, to stop intimidation and to stop concentration of military forces in the border. There should be no ambiguity concerning the facts with Venezuela’s contention with Guyana, and I wish to make clear that the October 3, 1899 arbitral award, which has determined the boundaries between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela continue to be the legally-binding instrument that remain in effect today,”
While the determination of this matter is pending before the World Court, SG Almagro says Venezuela must respect Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereign rights. He said the planned referendum not only threatens the peace and security in Guyana but in the region as well and is further proof of the Venezuelan regime’s attempts to undermine and breach international law.
“The referendum seeks to avoid the ICJ determination to settle the matter peacefully and equitably, and unilaterally attempts to make null and void the citizenship of Guyana who rightly have existed in the Essequibo region… There is no evidence to indicate or suggest that Indigenous communities in the Essequibo region want to have anything to do with Venezuela citizenship; to impose such a thing, is identity theft, and borderline human trafficking due to forced displacement of a peoples from their place of origin,” the OAS Secretary General posited.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the OAS Permanent Council, Sir Ronald Sanders of Antigua and Barbuda, described the escalated situation with Venezuela as “troubling” and further underscored the need for a peaceful settlement of the border controversy in keeping with international law.
“It is imperative that the legal and diplomatic mechanisms established for conflict resolution are respected and allowed to proceed without undue influence or pressure. We empathise with the concerns raised [by Guyana] and we advocate for a resolution that is fair, and just for both countries, in accordance with international legality, including the charter of the Organisation of American States, which unequivocally affirms respect for the principles of non-aggression, respect for sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” Sir Ronald stated.

Regional solidarity
Meanwhile, hemispheric members of the OAS Permanent Council also joined in showing solidary towards Guyana against Venezuela’s heightened aggression. Among the countries declaring their support for Guyana was Brazil, through its Representative at the OAS, Ambassador Benoni Belli. The Portuguese nation borders both Guyana and Venezuela.
While the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat has already stated that the conduct of a popular referendum on Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo has no validity in international law and also reaffirmed its support for the border controversy between the two countries to be settled via the judicial process currently before the ICJ, several Caribbean nations individually denounced Venezuela’s actions during Wednesday’s OAS Permanent Council meeting.
Dominica’s Representative at the OAS Permanent Council, Steve Ferrol, speaking as the Coordinator of the Caricom Caucus, reiterated the regional bloc’s position.
“Caricom earnestly hopes that Venezuela is not raising the prospects of using force or military means to get its own way in this controversy over territory. After all, it has been a long-standing position of Latin America and the Caribbean countries, including Venezuela, that our region must remain a zone of peace. Meanwhile, Parliament says that a referendum imposed by Venezuela has no validity, bearing or standing in international law in relation to this controversy. The referendum is a purely domestic construct, but its summary effect is likely to undermine peace, tranquillity, security, and more in our region. Caricom reiterates its support for reducer process, and expresses the hope that Venezuela will engage fully in that process before the International Court of Justice,” Ferrol stated.
Jamaica’s Alternate Representative to the OAS, Delita McCallum also indicated that Guyana can count on her Government’s support.
According to the Jamaican representative, “my government remains fully committed to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of States as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Jamaica fully supports the work of the ICJ and its ability to deliver justice where there is a breach of the United Nations founding principles, in an impartial, transparent and independent manner. In this regard, Guyana can continue to count on Jamaica support in defence of their sovereign rights and territorial integrity.”
In addition, Barbados Representative to the OAS, Noel Anderson underscored the need for a peaceful and mature solution.
According to him, “in a world that has become so uncertain and so unpredictable, we must have peaceful equitable outcomes in accordance with international law. We must also respect our reputation as a zone of peace. This is one of the few remaining areas that we can boast of, as a zone of peace. Therefore, maturity must prevail. But just let me say, Barbados stands with Guyana and on the side of international law.”
Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, the Alternate Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the Permanent Council, expressed her country’s deep concern over Venezuela’s planned referendum, which she urged the OAS to monitor.
“It is imperative to underscore that international law unequivocally prohibits any State from unilaterally seizing, annexing or incorporating the territory of another sovereign State… We would like to see a legal and peaceful settlement of this border matter through the international legal process in the interest of peace and prosperity of both nations,” Davis-Lake posited.
Belize’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Lynn Raymond Young declared his country’s “…resolute and unwavering support for Guyana in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity… The actions of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on this particular issue are of paramount concern and we call on both parties to uphold the principles of international law and the inviolable rights of nations to maintain their sovereignty and territorial boundaries.”
Ambassador Chet Donovan Neymour of The Bahamas reminded that Latin America and Caribbean is a zone of peace, something which he noted must be upheld by all member states.
“These commitments are not merely words on paper, but are principles that must be upheld in order to secure the future of the region that we want and must guide the settlement of the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute,” Neymour stated, while also “…reiterating The Bahamas’ commitment to supporting efforts towards a peaceful, equitable outcome of this dispute in accordance with the rule of law”.
Additionally, St Lucia’s Representative at the OAS, Elizabeth Darius-Clark relayed her country’s belief that the long-standing border matter between Venezuela and Guyana should be resolved through the ICJ.
“[The ICJ’s] neutrality and expertise make it the ideal forum for resolving the Venezuela-Guyana conflict, assuring that both nations will be given a fair opportunity to make the case and present the evidence. We are aware that Venezuela is no longer a member of this august body and is, therefore, not represented here. However, St Lucia’s message here today is consistent with our country’s desire to keep our region as a zone of peace,” Ambassador Darius-Clark stated.
Moreover, Trinidad and Tobago’s OAS Representative, Anthony Phillips-Spencer said his country recognised that Guyana has consistently adhered to the fundamental principles of international law.
“Trinidad and Tobago will continue to stand as an interlocutor of peace on this issue which the International Court of Justice, the ICJ, has determined to be within its jurisdiction. To that end, Trinidad and Tobago looks forward to each party’s full engagement in the ICJ process, until a resolution that is in accordance with the principles of international law,” he asserted.
Grenada’s OAS Representative, Ambassador Tarlie Francis said his country “…does not support actions that would undermine the principles contained in the United Nations and OAS Charters. The main purpose of these charters and institutions that they establish is to maintain peace, stability and ensure a better world. Grenada, therefore, insists that reliance is placed on the legal proceedings of the International Court of Justice and would discourage any deviation from these proceedings. Our support for Guyana and integrity of Guyana is unwavering.” (G8)